Seventeenth+Welsh+6

= Amendment Wiki Space Project =

__**Seventeenth Amendment**__


 * By : Arthur P. Ryota O. Misato N.**


 * 17th Amendment -**

"The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures." "When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of each State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct." "This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution."

__**AMENDMENT # 17**__


 * Question # 1 : What is the 17th Amendment about?**

The 17th Amendment is very important .The first part states that the Senate of the United States have one vote, and there are two senators per state. Each senator is elected by the people in the state, and run in the office for 6 years. The second part is that when there are vacancies in the representation of of any state of the Senate, the executive authority or government of each state can can make elections to appoint other Senate to fill in the vacancies. Any legislature of any state can empower, or overthrow the executive authorities to make appointments until people elect a new senator. This amendment restates the first paragraph of Article 1, Section 4 of the Constitution, which is that Congress are not allowed to make state regulations of elections to determines where senators are chosen to be.


 * Question # 2 : When was the 17th Amendment written, passed, and ratified?**

The articles based on the 17th Amendment was written in the early 20th century. David Graham Phillips wrote pieces of the 17th Amendment that was similar to the Constitution. However, other articles written by different people tied into the real Ammendment. On June 12, 1911, the 17th Amendment was passed by the Senate, and was passed by the house on May 13, 1912. It was ratified on April 8, 1913.


 * Question # 3 : Why was the 17th Amendment passed?**

The 17th Amendment was passed because of many reasons. Senators used to be elected only by the Legislatures of the state. Many people thought that it wasn't fair that the appointed Senate relied on the Legislatures. Many problems were caused because of this, and the problems doubled after the civil war. People wanted the right to vote for their own Senate of the state. There were cases of Legislatures being bribed by the delegates running, so they can easily become Senate, and many more problems which changed the outcome of the Senate running. The 17th Amendment would be fair, so the people of the state can vote for their own legislature. The 17th Amendment was finally ratified. This Amendment let the public vote for their Senator, which brought the government closer to the people, and also balanced the state government better.


 * Question # 4 : How does this Amendment affect us now?**

The 17th Amendment affects us now. Because of this Amendment, we are able to vote for our Senate. It does seem fair to vote for our state Senate because Senators benefit us also. If we did not vote for our Senate, some Senate would be appointed of the job very unfairly, even if they might not be smart, which could lead to Chaos.


 * Question # 5 : Who is a Senator? What do they do?**

Senators are a part of the Legislative branch, and part of the Congress, or the state government. There are two Senators per state. Senators make laws for our states. However, it is not easy to ratify a law, because it has to be looked at and checked by other parts of the state governments, such as the Representatives and Legislatures. Senators are very important to our states, and our country.


 * Question # 6 : Who are the Senators of New York?**

The Senators of New York are Hilary Clinton, who is currently trying to run for president, and Chuck Schumer, a Senator since 1999.

[ [[image:http://www.aolcdn.com/ch_bv/hillary-clinton-howard-u-400a062907.jpg width="185" height="191"]] [[image:chuck_schumer.jpg width="124" height="176"]]


 * Question # 7 : How were the Senators of th****e states appointed before the Amendment was ratified?**

The Legislatures of each state used to pick the Senators.


 * Question # 9 : Do people still care about this Amendment?**

Yes, people and the government still use this amendment for solving problems with appointing Senators and voting for them.


 * Question 10 # : Why was the third part of the 17th Amendment not matter anymore?**

The third part of the 17th Amendment does not matter anymore because some government officials thought that Senators just elected by the people would be a better and a fairer idea.


 * Question # 11 : What was happening in the U.S. is the time is was proposed?**

While this amendment was proposed, the Civil War just ended, and the North won. However, problems increased after the war. Some legislatures were being bribed, to appoint senators easily. To solve this problem, the 17th amendment was proposed, and the people of the states were able to pick the Senator.


 * Question # 12 : What does the 17th Amendment really mean?**

The 17th Amendment really means that the Senators of each state are chosen by the people, and when there is a vacancy of the Senetors, the Executive Authority ( Governor ) of the state picks a new Senators until another elections occurs.




 * =**Current Events**=

__Bigger News Network : " Think political Parties Are Destroying America? Thank the 17th Amendment!" June 7th, 2007 by Warner Todd Huston__ - Arthur P.

Warner Todd Hudson has another view about the 17th Amendment. He thinks that the Amendment was a very bad idea. " Back then, only the Legislatures picked the Senators, and the amendment was a good solution, but now since the Senate are chosen by the people, and not the Legislatures, they no longer pay attension to what the state government needs, " says Warner Hudson. He also says that the political parties are destroying America, and cause debating fights. Many people think that the 17th Amendment is a good amendment, because it lets people vote for their state Senate, but some people do not like it because they think that the Senate will just look at the problems of their party. Huston thinks that the 17th Amendment was effective then, but now, he says it's a disaster. Warner Todd Huston wants the 17th Amendment to be repealed, even though he says that is was an "ideal solution" back then. I think that Warner Todd Huston has a good point. However, I do not fully believe in what he says. I think that the 17th Amendment was and is a good Amendment. It lets people vote for their state Senator. They get to vote for who they think is the best candidate. I think that people should be able to vote. However, I do not think that the Amendment is great, because there are some problems that have been caused because of it also. Some Senators or other government officials care too much about the political party they are in, and sometimes only look at the problems that their party want. For example that Todd Huston included in his article, " Ale Gore used to be against abortion and gun control. However, he became a Democrat and approved them." I think that the 17th Amendment is good, and bad. This Amendment does have its ups and downs, but if we did not have this Amendment, people could not vote for their state senators.


 * Link :**　http://www.bloggernews.net/17509


 * Questions related to current event :**

Is the 17th Amendment a good idea?

Should the 17th Amendment be repealed?

Shoud the 17th Amendment be fixed, or revised?

What idea is best? To keep the Amendment or to remove it from the Constitution?

Does the Political Parties of the U.S. really affect us?


 * __One Oar in the Water : 17th Amendment ; The Worst Amendment ; The John Galt Line, October 11, 2007__ - Ryota O.**

This article talks about how the 17th Amendment was not a good idea. It shows how Americans do not realize that the senators of the U.S. used to be elected by a so called "better" process before the 1900s. Its also says, " Conservatives have been so brainwashed about democracy that they would not repeal the worst Amendment in the Constitution." He says that this Amendment is a bad 17th Amendment because the government made better decisions and which made America stronger. I think that the 17th Amendment is good Amendment, but it is a bad one too because Senators that are in political groups will not look at other problems.


 * Link :** http://www.oneoarinthewater.blogspot.com/2007/10/17th-amendment-worst-amendment.html


 * __AG Challenges Timing of Senate Electon, December 31, 2008__ - Ryota O.**

Many people has many idia of 17th Amendment. Governor Haley Barbour think that if many people will be at the vote, it would save the state the expence of a separate special election. He says "17th Amendment gives the power to the executive authority." And General Jim Hood says that "If you go on and read the rest of the 17thamendment. It will be section that we are interpreting." Governor Haley Barbour and countered Attorney General Jim Hood think that vote is important. Jim Hood said "Because it's urgent to have someone who represents us that voted on." He think that why court will interpret it as that being the intent of the legislature. Many people justfied in holding the election of many new governors.


 * Link :** http://www.wlbt.com/global/story.asp?S=7562258&nav=2CSf



**__Ather information:__**

 * http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/constitution_amendments_11-27.html
 * http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.amendmentxvii.html

by : Misato
 * __1913: 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Direct Election of U.S. Senato__**

This article is about 17th amendment. It was Passed by Congress May 13, 1912, and ratified April 8, 1913, the 17th amendment modified Article I, section 3, of the Constitution by allowing voters to cast direct votes for U.S. Senators. Prior to its passage, Senators were chosen by state legislatures. The writter of this artical says that "The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures." Also when vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct. I think this amendment is good. Because if we dont have this amendment then like 5 year old kid can just vote for random person.


 * Link :**http://www.allamericanpatriots.com/american_historical_documents_1913_17th_amendment_u_s_constitution_direct_election_u_s_senators